The History
He may not yet be a household name, but Nathan “Nearest” Green was the first African American master distiller on record in the United States. Often referred to as the “Godfather of Tennessee Whiskey,” he ran a distilling operation for a Lutheran preacher just outside of Lynchburg, TN, and was the mentor and master distiller behind one of the most well-known American whiskeys in the world. His story was almost entirely lost to history, however, until the Founders of Nearest Green Distillery decided to solidify his legacy by putting his name on a bottle of Tennessee whiskey.
Nathan “Nearest” Green began distilling for Reverend Dan Call when he was enslaved on Dan Call Farm just outside of Lynchburg, TN. During his time there he began to mentor a young Jack Daniel, who came to work on the farm. After Green was freed he continued distilling for Reverend Call, and when Call later sold his distilling operation to Daniel, Daniel hired Green as the first-ever African American Master Distiller. Future generations of Green’s family continued working in the distillery, but for over a hundred years Nearest Green’s story went largely untold outside of Lynchburg.
It is also speculated that Nearest Green may have invented what is known as the “Lincoln County Process” a technique by which whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal. This technique is what distinguishes Tennessee whiskey from Kentucky bourbon, and helped to define what makes Tennessee whiskey so unique. It is a process still used today.
The Distillery
Located on a 323 acre property in Shelbyville, TN, not far from Lynchburg, is the Nearest Green Distillery. Founded in 2017 by entrepreneur and author Fawn Weaver, the distillery opened its doors just a few years later. They give weekend tours and it’s currently the only place where you can purchase certain exclusive whiskey releases, such as the Uncle Nearest Master Blend.
The distillery is situated on a working farm and includes a welcome center, restaurant, non-alcoholic speakeasy, family tasting room, bottling house, and single barrel rickhouse. Nearest Green recently purchased an adjacent parcel of land with plans to grow their own non-GMO, organic corn to use in their whiskey.
The Blender
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The Whiskey
Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender at Nearest Green Distillery, is the great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green. She has won multiple Master Blender of the Year awards, sometimes back-to-back, and is the first female African American Master Blender in history. You’ll find her signature on every bottle of Uncle Nearest.
Tennessee whiskey is very similar to Kentucky Bourbon. In fact, it meets all of the legal qualifications to be sold as bourbon. It’s made from a mash bill of at least 51% corn, distilled at less than 160 proof, and aged for at least two years in charred virgin oak barrels. Tennessee whiskey differentiates itself from bourbon through a final step of charcoal filtration, the Lincoln County Process that Nearest Green most likely pioneered.
Uncle Nearest 1820 Premium Single Barrel Whiskey is the rarest whiskey the distillery has to offer. Only 1% of Nearest Green whiskey is selected for their single barrel expressions. The whiskey is aged a minimum of 11 years and must be at a cask strength above 108. Each barrel is hand-selected by the founders of Nearest Green. The whiskey is somewhat floral and very complex. It contains notes of black tea, spice cake, and vanilla.
Uncle Nearest 1856 was the first expression Nearest Green Distillery launched to honor the legacy of their namesake. It is composed of a 100 proof blend of premium aged whiskeys. It’s bold and spicy, with a sweet vanilla finish, and contains notes of maple, dried fruit, ginger, and oatmeal cookie, with a nose of hay and stone fruit.
Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender at Nearest Green Distillery, is the great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green. She has won multiple Master Blender of the Year awards, sometimes back-to-back, and is the first female African American Master Blender in history. You’ll find her signature on every bottle of Uncle Nearest.
Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition is a blend of the best barrels from each batch of Uncle Nearest whiskey, hand-selected by Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler. It’s aged for at least four years and bottled at 118.4 proof. It contains notes of graham cracker, fig, fresh apple, and spice.
Nathan Green may not yet have received the full credit he’s due for his contributions to the world of American whiskey, but if Nearest Green Distillery has anything to say about it he soon will. The distillery plans to honor his legacy by putting his name on the best whiskey they can produce — whiskeys that they think would make Uncle Nearest proud.
